Toy puzzle.



PATEN'I'ED JULY 23, 1907.

D. H. MARTIN.

TOY PUZZLE. APPLIC T ON FILED mm. a, 1906.

Fig.2.

l u v M v 4% am attain,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID HIRAM MARTIN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE'HAI JF TO SAMUEL W. VAUGHEN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA,

TOY PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1907.

Application fil d December 8,1906. Serial No. 3%,950.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID HIRAM MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have made a certain new 5 and useful Invention in Toy Puzzles; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification,

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section or the same.

The invention has relation to toy puzzles, and it consists in the novel construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter a, designates a round base having an annular rabbet b, forming a seat for a transparent dome or closure 0, above the floor 6, of said base. This floor isannular, extending around a central upward cone or projection f, which rises from said floor into the transparent "closure or dome. The projection is preferably of conical or tapered form, and is provided with an exterior groove or slot 9, which extends from the top of the projection to the margin of the floor. The projection is axially hollow, having therein a recess h, which extends downward forming a pocket, such recess having its mouth or opening t, at the top of the projection. The-margin m, of this opening forming the top of the projection or cone is thin and rounded. The dome and base are attached together, usually by pasting a piece of paper around over the joint, as indicated at it. Before securing these parts together one or more little balls 2, are placed within the dome on the floor, such balls being of proper size to pass through the opening t, down into the passage and chamber of the projection. The projection may be provided with an upright arch-plate s, over its upper end, said plate serving to carry a trade-mark or other sign, and acting as a guard to prevent a ball or balls from being dropped into the pocket, by inverting the device, causing a ball to.

rest on the center of the closure, or thereabout's, and quickly reversing the device again. The projection is usually a cone of long or slow taper from base to end, and its diameter at the end is just sufficient to provide the thin rounded margin m, of the opening t.

The object in playing the game is to so manipulate the device as to cause one or more of the little balls to pass into the passage and chamber of the projection, a feat of some difficulty, but which can be accomplished.

The transparent closure is usually formed of smooth glass, and has a horizontal top portion which is likewise smooth, making it difficult if not impossible'to center a ball thereupon when the device is inverted, and then 7 by quickly righting the device drop the ball into the pocket. v v

The shallow pocket at the top of the projection is adapted to receive and hold a plurality of balls, and when one ball has been received by the pocket, it is quite a difficult matter to get the other ball or balls therein, without causing the first ball to drop out. Still this can be done, as the side walls of the pocket are vertical, and the ball will thus not roll out unless the device is tipped over quite far.

Having described the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a toy puzzle, a hollow transparent glass closure having" a smooth top, a base having a central tapering projection provided with a recess in its top and a longitudinal lateral groove, said'base having a floor surrounding the projection, guard means over the top recess of the projection, and a free ball within the closure.

2. A toy puzzle, consisting of a transparent hollow closure, a base having a tapering projection provided with a recess at its top, and a longitudinal lateral groove, said base having a floor surrounding the projection, a guard device 0ver the top recess of and attached to the projection, and a free hall within the closure.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID HIRAM MARTIN. 

